Frazetta art collection to leave Poconos (with video)

Wednesday

Dec 16, 2009 at 12:01 AMDec 16, 2009 at 1:20 PM

The multimillion-dollar art collection of Frank Frazetta, at the heart of a family feud that led to a son's arrest, has been removed from its Marshalls Creek museum — and it's not coming back. "They're not going to be displayed back here in the Poconos after this," Bill Frazetta said.

HOWARD FRANK

The multimillion-dollar art collection of Frank Frazetta, at the heart of a family feud that led to a son's arrest, has been removed from its Marshalls Creek museum — and it's not coming back.

"They're not going to be displayed back here in the Poconos after this," Bill Frazetta said.

Bill Frazetta, owner of Fra-zetta's Fantasy Costumes in East Stroudsburg, is the son of legendary artist Frank Frazetta, whose fantasy paintings have been featured on posters, book covers and album jackets.

Last Wednesday, Bill's brother Alfonso Frank Frazetta, 52, of East Stroudsburg, known as Frank Jr., was arrested and charged with using a backhoe to break down the door of the museum housing the artwork and taking 90 paintings valued at $20 million.

According to his wife, Lori Frazetta, Frank Jr. was taking the paintings to a secure location for safe storage. Frank Jr. and his wife believe Bill Frazetta and his sisters are trying to take over their ailing father's property.

Frank Jr. told police he was given permission by his father, who is in Florida, to enter the museum and take the paintings. But when police contacted Frank Sr., the artist denied giving his consent to Frank Jr.

"(Frank Jr. and Lori) said they went to dad that morning and got permission. Dad was furious about that," Bill Frazetta said.

The museum that housed the paintings was a fireproof building with burglar alarms, smoke detectors and a gate outside.

"That was as good a protection as you could get. Dad and mom were happy with that," he said.

The art was left in Frank Jr.'s truck and trailer last Wednesday evening after the unsuccessful burglary. "The next day they were delivered to a proper facility. They are in a very safe place at this time," Bill Frazetta said.

The point of moving the collection was to allow access to more fans than just those visiting the Poconos.

"We wanted to have it displayed all over the world. How nice would that be? They're housed in the Poconos, and how many people can see them there?" Bill Frazetta said.

He hopes some pieces will be displayed in Manhattan, with other pieces traveling to exhibits around the world.

The family has discussed moving the art collection in the past.

"We kind of had plans for all this. This just got the ball rolling faster," Bill Frazetta said.

He said his father was deeply upset at the news of Frank Jr.'s arrest.

"Basically, everybody was being treated by dad fairly. He wanted everyone to be happy," Bill Frazetta recounted.

And he rejected Lori Frazetta's claim that Frank Sr., 81, was mentally impaired.

"As far as the dementia part, that is completely false. He had some strokes. The only problem is his speech, he sometimes has trouble trying to spit things out," Bill Frazetta said.

The Wednesday arrest was the second time in three days the police visited the museum property. Police were summoned Dec. 7 to the museum when someone blocked the front door with the backhoe used in the burglary.

Frank Jr.'s property adjoins the museum property, and the backhoe and a bulldozer both came from his property, according to others familiar with the situation.

Regret and disappointment were probably the best ways to describe Bill Frazetta's mood after the arrest. The museum's security was intended to protect the artwork from outsiders, only to be allegedly breached by a member of the family.

"We were trying to do the right things so everybody is protected. We thought they were safe being housed in the museum. It's just a shame that that all happened," he said.

Frank Jr. was charged with burglary, theft by unlawful taking and criminal trespass. His preliminary hearing will be this morning at 8:30 at district court in Marshalls Creek.

Attempts to reach attorneys for Frank Jr. and Frank Sr. were unsuccessful.